Iraqi President Barham Salih called on Thursday for keeping the country away from regional tensions and divisions, acknowledging that its system has failed since 2003.
His statement marked the first official acknowledgement by any of Iraq’s top politician of the failure of the system.
Salih was speaking during a speech on the occasion of the new year and as the one year anniversary of the killing of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis approaches. Both were killed in a US drone strike on January 3, 2020 near Baghdad airport.
“The Iraqi people deserve more than what they are getting now,” continued Salih. “God has blessed this country with resources and a geopolitical position that allows it to become a meeting point for regional and international interests.”
“This will not be achieved without steering it clear of regional divisions,” he stressed. “Iraq should play an effective role in achieving peace and security in the region.”
“The successive crises and challenges underscore the extent and reality of the structural flaw in the current system of rule,” he remarked. “History demands that serious effort be exerted to end the cycle of crises.”
“This demands that we acknowledge the that system of rule that was formed after 2003 has become impaired and cannot serve the people, who are deprived of their most important legitimate rights,” said the president.
He underlined the need for a new “political pact that paves the way for the establishment of a capable and sovereign state.”
“The Iraqi people cannot suffer the burden of conflicts, political failures and corruption,” Salih declared, urging structural reform, support to the poor classes, continuing the fight against corruption and limiting the possession of arms to the state.
Head of the Center for Political Thinking in Iraq Dr. Ihssan Shmary told Asharq Al-Awsat that Salih’s remarks were an accurate reading of the reality in Iraq.
“Iraq is suffering from a crisis in the ruling system and political class,” he stated, stressing that the people have despaired from their rulers.
He expressed his support for Salih’s call for a new political pact, saying it was the first step towards reform.
Meanwhile, pro-Iran factions in Iraq are preparing to mark the anniversary of Soleimani and al-Muhandis’ assassination.
Head of the Fateh alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, called for a rally to mark the occasion on January 3.
